* U.S. Navy * Utility Squadron ONE * Utility Squadron TWO * NAS Pensacola * Fleet Air Wing FOUR * Carrier Air Serice Unit SEVEN *

TSINGTAO, CHINA

     Uncle John Arrived in China in the Summer of 1946 he was stationed at the Naval Facility for Shore duty. Germany acquired Tsingtao in 1897 under a political agreement. The Germans were there for a short period (only 17 years) they considerably updated the naval facilities and had a profound influence on the surrounding city and it's people. During the first world war, Japan who was on the allied side, had declared war on the Central Powers and immediately took control of the Naval Base at Tsingtao. Japan wanted this base because of it's strategic location on the Yellow Sea. It's position gave Japan a base from which she could dominate the sea lanes serving Manchuria and all of northeastern China. After the war, in 1921, Japan under world political pressure signed the Washington Naval treaty, much to the dismay of it's military leaders. The new treaty gave the naval facility of Tsingtao back to China later in 1922. Tsingtao remained in China's control for many years. However, after the incident at the Marco Polo Bridge open hostilities between China and Japan commenced. As a result, Japan invaded Tsingtao on January 10, 1938. Landing on unfortified beaches some three miles below the cites defenses, the Japanese took Tsingtao without a struggle.During the Japanese occupation of Tsingtao, the Army and the Navy would use the city and it's facilities as a base of operations against the fueding Chinese nationals and communists in the Shantung Penisula throughout the war. Tsingtao remained a vital port and naval facility in the northeast China region, right up to the end of the war. But even before the surrender cermonies took place on the deck of the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Harbor, plans were drawn up for the occupation of northern China by the U.S. Forces. Japanese forces left Tsingtao in mid August and Chinese communists moved in to take control of the city. During the early afternoon of 11 October, the first of the 6th Marine division's transports docked at Tsingtao's wharfs. The 6th Reconnaissance Company, landing first, moved through the crowded streets, lined with a cheering, flag-waving throng, to secure Tsangkou airfield, about 10 miles from the city. The observation planes of VMO-6 were launched from the escort carrier BOUGAINVILLE the next day and landed safely at the field. The remainder of the division landed amidst the bin of enthusiastic applause during the next few days. By 16 October, all troops were ashore and established in their assigned billets. The Chinese communists left the city and the Nationalist forces loyal to Chiang Kai-shek, backed up by armed irregulars that were recognized by the Central Government, took control of Tsingtao. The United States maintained a military presence in the Shantung Province and a Naval Base at Tsingtao for four years until political upheaval and the Chinese civil war forced the Americans to leave when the Communists came into power. On June 1, 1949 the last Marines left Tsingtao and with it, the end of America's 90 year military involvement in China. Uncle John left Tsingtao on July 10, 1948. He left China for duty at NAS Quonset Point In Rhode Island. Aunt Bert met him he was stationed for Temporary Duty at the Beavertail Training Center near Jamestown Rhode Island at the Combat Information Center (CIC) training. Bert and John dated for a while and then wed in 1950. Uncle John was at Quonset for two years. 

TOM GENTRY's PHOTO ALBUM

Uncle John was transferred in June of 1946 from CASU-7 to his new job at the Naval Base in Tsintao China. while I haven' been able to pinpoint exactly which squadron or Command he was with there was only one air field in the area.  Tom Gentry served with the Marine security force at the FMF COMNAVWESPAC at Tsingtao, China from 1948 to the very last day on June 1, 1949. While he was there he took many photographs of the base and the Tsingtao airfield. Tom had the distinction of being one of that last Marines to leave China as he put it " When I left the base on the that last Deuce and a half,(2 1/2 ton truck) the Chinese were no more than 500 yards behind us." Tom has been gracious enough to let me use some of his photos to highlight Uncle John Santos's webpage since they were there at the same time. 

(Left) Japanese barracks left over from the war. They were on the Chinese side of the base and uninhabited. Sometimes the Red Chinese would sneak into them and take pot shots at the Marine Guards from the windows at night (Right) The base Mess hall at Tsingtao

(Left) Nationalist Chinese Air Force the U.S. gave the Chinese government surplus WWII fighters to fight the Communists (Right) The Chinese Flight Line with P-51D's on the far left and U.S. Marines R5C's (C46's)from VMR 153 at the Tsingtao, China Airfield

(Left) Fuel carts enroute to the airfield. Due to a lack of a fuel pipeline on the base, the fuel for aircraft had to be transported from the port facility to the airfield via carts and Chinese laborers (Right) A U.S. Marines R5C's (C46's)from VMR 153 and a F7F-3P "Tigercat" night fighter at Tsingtao airfield

(Left)P-51 coming in for a routine landing (Right) OUCH! Not so routine! This Chinese AF P-51 came in too hard and the landing gear collapsed. Notice the missing cowling cover, it flew in this way. The Nationalist Chinese had a poor maintenance program and they did not take care of their aircraft (no wonder they lost to the Reds!)

(Left)P-51's of the Nationalist Chinese Air Force (Right) Bombed out barracks building at Tsingtao

(Left) the "Water depot" this the area where the Marines had some trouble with the Red Chinese sneaking in an sabotaging the airfield (Right) The results of some of that sabotage a bombed out Quonset hut at Tsingtao

Tom Gentry snapped this photo as he was leaving China on June 1, 1949. This was the last island his ship passed as they left Tsingtao harbor. With the Navy and Marines departure from Tsingtao they closed the book on America's long and illustrious 85 year involvement in China. for more on Tsingtao click on these two websites here:

  "CHINA MARINES" website      History of the U.S. Marines in North China 1945-1949

  1950-1964: Aircraft Squadrons, and USS Constellation